Manchester is full of stunning architecture, from the neo-Gothic Manchester Cathedral and John Rylands Library to the iconic neo-Modern Beetham Tower and the Art Deco Sunlight House. Now, an unassuming yet beautiful suburban building has officially joined those ranks, with 26 Old Hall Road in Broughton Park, Salford, being added to the National Heritage List for England at Grade II.
The listing was made by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), on the advice of Historic England, recognising the special architectural interest of the building.
Built in 1935, the house is a striking example of the international Streamline Moderne style, made popular through architectural journals and exhibitions such as the 1934 Empire Exhibition. Its largely intact 1930s interior includes a dramatic double-height entrance hall, sweeping staircase and balconied gallery.
Wide, arched sliding doors open from the hall into the dining room and lounge, allowing the main rooms to be combined into a single space, in keeping with the free-flowing planning associated with the Modern Movement.
The interior still has a wealth of original decorative features, including lavish wall panelling, coved ceilings, parquet and inlaid veneer floors, and coloured geometric glazing. Many original features of domestic life also survive, including bell pushes and a service bell board in the butler’s pantry, which once summoned staff to different rooms of the house.
The house is thought to be the work of notable Manchester architect and developer Joseph Sunlight, who was well-known for designing hundreds of houses in the nearby Sedgley Park estate, as well as the South Manchester synagogue in Fallowfield (1913) and the Art Deco office block Sunlight House in Manchester city centre (1932). Although the architect of 26 Old Hall Road is not formally documented, its design quality and Sunlight’s dominant local presence make him the most likely candidate.
Tom Frater, Regional Director at North Historic England, said: “26 Old Hall Road is a rare and glamorous survival of the Streamlined Moderne style in a suburban setting that has changed remarkably little since the 1930s. Its listing recognises both its outstanding design and its probable connection to one of Manchester’s most inventive inter-war architects, Joseph Sunlight.”
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Sports Heritage and Leisure at Salford City Council, added: “We are supportive that Historic England has granted 26 Old Hall Road Grade II listed status. It will help to ensure that its unique character is protected for future generations.”
